And Then There Were 3

Well, with the change in the due date a couple of weeks ago, it feels like it has taken much longer to get to 34 weeks!  I only have 6 more weeks to go.  I just had a doctor’s appointment today, and everything is going great.  My doctor says Zach is VERY active (she even put the emphasis on the word “very”).  I’m sure he will be just as active when he is born if he takes afer Will at all.  About the only time Will ever sits still is when he is sleeping. 

Zach should now weigh about 4 3/4 lbs.  I’ll get an exact weight from my doctor next week from his measurements.  These are just the averages for babies his age.  His skin is getting smoother and fatter.  And his central nervous system and lungs are continuing to develop.

I am starting to feel much more pregnant lately.  It is getting harder to breathe, and I am starting to have to pee every hour.  Sleeping is also getting more challenging.  I can’t really lay in bed the full 8 hours much anymore because my hips and back start to hurt, even though I have pillows supporting me everywhere.  So, I am starting to get ready to have this baby.  And I can’t wait until I get to hold him in my arms!

Speaking of holding babies, I got to meet Taryn Alice this weekend!  She is Melissa and Trey’s 2nd child, and was born on Friday, July 27th.  She was 7lbs 10oz when born, and is just adorable!  Holding her really made it much more real that soon I will be doing the same thing with my own baby.  And soon, my family and friends will be coming to visit me (ok, to visit Zach) in the hospital.  I can’t wait!

Here are a couple of pictures of Taryn:

I also added some more Belly pictures of me under the Baby Pictures album.  Here is my most recent picture.  I am huge!

I went to the doctor this past Tuesday.  She said everything is going good!  But, she moved my due date back a week.  So, instead of being due on September 3rd, having only 7 more weeks, and being 33 weeks along, I am now due on September 11th, I am only 32 weeks along, and I will have 8 more weeks left.  September 3rd was a fun due date because it was on Labor Day!  But, now I am due on a very infamous day for negative reasons.  Thank goodness only 4% of babies are born on their actual due date.  And, if Zach IS born on September 11th, that will just make it a wonderful day!  I can’t say I wasn’t expecting it, though.  Based on the early ultrasound, and on my 20 week ultrasound, both suggested I was due a week later than SEptember 3rd.

So, now I am 32 1/2 weeks right now.  According to my last doctor visit, Zach is now weighing in at 4.1 pounds.  And they said he could double in weight before I give birth….yikes!  Will weighed 8lbs 4oz when he was born.  Maybe Madsen men just make big baby boys.  We’ll have to wait and see for sure.  They also said they can tell from the ultrasound that Zach has a some thick hair on his head.  I had no idea they could see that on an ultrasound!  His skin should be becoming smooth and soft, and he should be plumping up for birth. 

I am still both excited and nervous about the birth.  I am excited to meet our little baby, but nervous about the delivery itself and what that will be like.  I really don’t want to have a c-section if possible.  I’ve started having more lower back pain, shortness of breath (everything is getting pushed up towards my lungs, and it is getting harder to breathe!), and I also started having a little bit of heartburn if I try to lie down too soon after I eat.  But, other than that, I am doing good physically.  Just hanging in there for 7 1/2 more weeks.

We also have to get another new vehicle.  Will’s truck had died a couple of months ago, and we bought a “new” 2005 Chevy Silverado with 4 doors to replace it.  It is a nice truck, and will definitely grow with our family.  But, just a week ago, my Trooper finally decided to give out.  The a/c was already out in the vehicle (YES, it was really hot to drive), but then it started overheating.  I took it in very soon, and they told me that it is leaking coolant into the engine, which is basically major engine work to repair.  The cost of repairs at this point are worth more than the vehicle itself.  So, now we begin the search for a car for me to drive. 

I had my baby shower two Sundays ago!!  It was fantastic!  I got almost everything on my registry.  And, I had so many people there.  I really appreciate the support from all my friends and family.  It was so great to see everyone and have them there.  Will and I were also very overwhelmed by the generousity of everyone.  Some people could not make it to the shower, and gave us gifts before or afterwards.  And of the gifts we did get at the shower, I was surprised by the amount that eveyone gave!  Will and I are truely very greatful to eveyone!

Here is a picture of me all decked out at the shower:

To see all the pics that my wonderful friend Karen took with my camera, you can go here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/80745995@N00/sets/72157600627100809/

My other wonderful friend Candy was nice enough to host the shower at her house.  When everyone got there, we started out with a game: Guess the Baby Food in the Jars.  We had baby food jars with no labels, and all the guests had to “guess” what type of food was in each jar by the way it looked and smelled.  My aunt Charlotte and friend Cat tied with the most number of correct guesses!

For the next game, everyone got to watch me.  They blindfolded me, and gave me a baby doll.  I had to take off her dirty diaper, wipe her, powder her, put on a new clean diaper, and then feed her.  It was a lot of fun, and interesting to do blindfolded!  I kept hearing all kinds of comments from “the peanut gallery” (aka - my guests) like “It’s 3am, and you’re sleepy and you need to hurry!” or “She’s crying!  What does she want?”.  It was cute and kept me cracking up the whole time!  Here’s a picture of me attempting this game:

Then I started opening gifts.  And boy were there gifts!!  I got lots of cute A&M things, including a couple of onsies, a cap for the baby, a pacifier, and a blanket that all have A&M on them!  I got a ton of cute clothes.  Little Zach will be the best dressed baby in town.  I got so many, now I have to try and pick one of them for the Going Home Outfit so he will look so cute in pictures of him coming home from the hospital.  I also got a lot of great functional items like everything I will need to give him a bath, medicine, diapers, sippy cups, blankets, grooming items, and much much more! 

After opening half of the gifts, we all took a break to eat some cake.  It was a tres leches cake with two layers of filling: one of strawberries, and one of peaches!  And I loved this tres leches cake because it wasn’t too sweet or soggy, but just right!  And the icing was a whipped icing, which is also not overly sweet, but still sooooo good.  Doesn’t it look yummy?

Then it was back to  more opening gifts.  I got a lot of my ”big” items too!  Before the shower, I had already received my crib bedding set (below), my pack-n-play (or ”playpen” for those who are older ), and my car seat that converts from infant to toddler.  At the shower, I got my mobile to go along with the bedding set (it’s so cute!), my stroller and infant carseat/carrier, my high chair, my diaper bag, my swing, and lots of other stuff.  Will’s favorite thing was the “My First Tools Set” which is a little plush toolbox, with three “tools” inside: a plush hammer that is also a rattle, a wrench that squeaks, and a screwdriver that crinkles. 

All in all, it was a fantastic shower, and I hope everyone had as great a time as I did!